Football - Arsenal close to signing defender, striker

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is close to ending his search for a central defender and striker, saying the club is working on deals to sign Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia and Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruna. Wenger said he is “99 percent confident” of completing the signings before the transfer window shuts Wednesday. Asked if bringing in Mustafi and Perez would conclude Arsenal’s business in Europe’s summer transfer window, Wenger said “we already have a big squad ... and we can’t have any more players.”